Novel shell-model analysis of the $^{136}$Xe double beta decay nuclear matrix elements

TL;DR

This paper presents a new shell-model analysis of $^{136}$Xe double beta decay, improving the understanding of nuclear matrix elements crucial for interpreting potential neutrinoless decay observations.

Contribution

The study introduces a comprehensive shell-model approach that includes all relevant orbitals, providing more accurate calculations of decay matrix elements for $^{136}$Xe.

Findings

Nuclear matrix elements are smaller with the new model.

Main contributions to decay half-life are diminished.

Enhanced description of Gamow-Teller strength.

Abstract

Neutrinoless double beta decay, if observed, could distinguish whether neutrino is a Dirac or a Majorana particle, and it could be used to determine the absolute scale of the neutrino masses. $^{136}$Xe is one of the most promising candidates for observing this rare event. However, until recently there were no positive result for the allowed and less rare two-neutrino double beta decay mode. The small nuclear matrix element associated with the small half-life represents a challenge for nuclear structure models used for its calculation. We report a new shell-model analysis of the two-neutrino double beta decay of $^{136}$Xe, which takes into account all relevant nuclear orbitals necessary to fully describe the associated Gamow-Teller strength. We further use the new model to analyze the main contributions to the neutrinoless double beta decay half-life, and show that they are also diminished.